Sadly, another draconian and Orwellian bill is emerging in Russia. Across the board negative changes to multiple articles of law proposed. Some of its implications:

When legal repressions happen to the publishers of "heretical" ideas (like this case - Russia: patriotic publisher Viktor Korchagin goes on trial for a book about Jews), now they will be able not only to fine and/or imprison for the specific activity, but also to freeze and confiscate all assets that they can construe as "obtained from extremist activities" (publishing "heretical" ideas is "extremist activity") and "intended to perform extremist activity". In other words, all property and funds of, say, a publishing house can theoretically be seized, in case of such charges, virtually without limit (as opposed to fines with a fixed ceiling).

The mere act of donating to some online publication or portal (not to mention organizations), which is performing something that can be construed as "extremism" (for example, Stormfront would definitely fit this description), or organizing a fund drive for it now becomes a criminal offence that can lead to huge fines, up to 3 years of imprisonment, confiscations and freeze of personal funds and other assets - and even those of some third parties implicated in the case in some way! This is probably deliberately designed as a scare against the "donate" feature that is widely used to finance unPC information platforms and blogs, it is also likely to force any commercial entities (online advertisement providers, providers of online payment methods) to proactively censor and refuse service on any suspicion of some "extremism" (unPC ideas) going on, because otherwise they can become dragged into the mess due to various provisions of this bill, especially the wording asset freezes against third parties and funds that "might have been derived from extremist activities".

Because those donating any sums of money will be officially committing an "extremist" criminal offence, they might end up on the Federal List of Extremist Individuals, and in that case they face financial and/or career catastrophe for years. People convicted for "extremist" offences also may face travel restrictions for up to several years (this is caused by already existing anti-extremist legislation).

Provisions in the law will encourage the practice of overcharging small-time participants or sympathizers who donated, using it as a blackmail to get testimonies and confessions from them to pile more charges on the "bigger fish" ("Financiers" of extremism may be exempt from liability if they promptly help to expose extremists).

Any comment on the internet, no matter how obscure the page or how many people see it, will now be treated the same as something published in mass media, so not even a small comment in some personal blog will be safe. Because they've already undermined most of the printed unPC publications in Russia, to the point of destroying or terrorizing into self-censorship most of it, the internet is one of the areas they are increasingly focusing on.

Thought criminals can be banned from any public sector positions of authority or elective offices, for long periods.

More and more they are erasing the barriers between how terrorism is treated and how essentially civil activities are treated (the ideas, organizations, publications, symbols, music etc government doesn't like). Loopholes are created in the bill for certain non-violent actions and civil organizations to be arbitrarily reclassified as "terrorist", exposing them to even more draconian treatments.

Such laws are usually proposed and/or backed by Russia's government, Vladimir Putin and United Russia party.

The State Duma has toughened anti-extremist legislation. MPs supported in the second reading the government's amendments introducing criminal offence for the financing of extremism (violators face confiscation of property). In addition, statements on the Internet will fall into the scope of anti-extremist legislation.

Confiscation for funding

Bill introduced by the government in August 2011 and adopted in first reading last summer, among other things, introduces confiscation of property into the anti-extremist legislation as a punishment for financing extremism. It proposes to confiscate in favor of the state funds and other property, if they were obtained by extremist activities or intended to finance it (similar punishment now provided for those convicted of terrorism).

Courts will be able to arrest the property of third parties as well - if there is reason to believe that they got it thanks to the extremist actions of the suspect or intended to fund extremism. A similar measure has already been allocated in the anti-terrorism legislation.

The project also introduces a new type of criminal charges - the financing of extremism (article 282.3 of the Criminal Code). Providing or collecting funds or providing financial services, obviously intended to finance at least one of extremist crimes or for the activities of an extremist community or organization, will be considered a crime, as follows from the description of crime contained in the bill.

For this crime it establishes fines from 300 thousand to 500 thousand rubles [translation note: roughly about 14 500 USD], up to 200 hours of community service or one or two years of corrective labor, as well as up to three years imprisonment. For the same actions using one's official position sentence twice as long - up to six years. This penalty can reach 700 thousand rubles, compulsory work - 240 hours, correctional - one year - two years.

Establishment and activities of organizations intending to fund extremism it's suggested [by the bill] to ban. Organization on behalf of which are prepared and committed extremist crimes, in particular provided the material assistance, will be declared terrorist [translator's note: this will cause further repercussions via another draconian "anti-terrorist" bill package]. Criminals who used their position as officials [translator's note: likely this refers to politicians, members of some local councils, possibly administrators of the education system as well], can now be prohibited to occupy certain positions for up to five years.

The network was "fixed".

In addition, expanding the scope of Article 280 and 282 - "Public calls for extremist activities" and "inciting hatred or hostility, and humiliation of human dignity." In the current edition [of Criminal Code] the criminal responsibility is for public calls to extremism and hate speech (including using the mass media). Now it's explicitly established [in the bill] that the statements on the Internet are also to be considered public.

Previously, law enforcement authorities every time had to prove that the statements online were public - starting from March 3, 2007, when in the Komi Republic was opened the first such criminal case. According to Article 282 of the Criminal Code Part 1 was charged blogger Savva Terentyev: inciting hatred was seen in his curses at the "traitorous cops."

According to the director of the Center SOVA ("Owl"), a member of the Presidential Council on Human Rights Alexander Verhovsky, language in the draft does not take into account the audience, which can be accessed by one or another posting with an appeal. "Someone can write it for their five friends, and only they will see it. This is not such a large audience and, therefore, is not so dangerous crime, but the punishment for any records on the Internet will be the same," - said Verhovsky in a conversation with RBC .

Similar "Internet Amendment" has already been entered in the criminal charges for calling for separatism (Part 2 of article 280.1). The initiative to extend the application of [criminal code] articles on the internet came from Senator Klishas two weeks after the provision came into force. In other articles about public incitement (Article 212, part 3 - to riots and Article 205.2 - to engage in terrorist activities, etc.), use of the Internet as a public platform is not yet registered.

United Russia deputy Vyacheslav Timchenko is sure that tougher penalties for extremism are necessary "as a measure of prevention." "Any citizens or extremists planning their actions, should know that they will answer for it in full," - explained the deputy.

Blurred wording

MPs did not question the bill, amendments to the document (they were technical) were approved by 240 votes, no one voted against. In the second reading for the bill voted 388 people.

One of the opponents of the bill - Head of Legal Department of the Communist Party Central Committee, State Duma Deputy Vadim Solovyov. Solovyov, like his colleagues, is not satisfied by the vagueness of the provisions on the financing of extremist activity. "The wording of the bill completely not juridical, they are so vague that it is possible to prosecute anyone," - he wonders. According to him, any opposition will fit under the law, even the Communist Party. In this case, the ban on taking governmental positions threatening violators also becomes overly repressive.

"In the moment they need it the powers can fire this arrow at us, and the whole parties, as well as individuals, will not be able to hold elective office, work as public sector officials" - said the deputy.